OFFICIAL "HELP ME CHOOSE A PLAYER" THREAD: Can't decide? Start HERE. - Page 396

Ok this is hard choosing between these three players.

My requirements are real good picture quality and blu ray performance, and ability to play various video file formats from a USB drive. I am not looking for Netflix streaming or internet streaming as a deal breaker, but for a player of sustaining a reliable home network connection to be able to stream movies of the PC.

I am leaning towards Samsung BD-D6500 since it looks like Panasonic 210 does not play a variety of file formats and Samsung is known for its picture quality, but looks like BD-D6500 has a lot of negative feedback..

Any help is appreciated.

Also if any other model that is in the same price range which is worth looking into. I am not sure if LG BD670 is a contender.

It is not better at all for BluRay PQ, and not significantly better, if at all, for upscaling DVD. Where it is definitely better is analog audio (if you use analog audio), plus heavier, more substantial build quality. IMO, unless you are going to use analog audio, it's not worth the higher price, but others may disagree. Also, the Oppo is a universal player (for SACD and DVD-A).

Correct, it is solely for BD-Live (you don't need memory for playing BluRay discs or for streaming Netflix).

I'm looking for a BR player which can also be a media streamer. Particularly MKV files. It seems that the latest Samsung and Lg support MKV but I cannot tell if they support it natively over the network (eg NAS), DLNA, or USB connection only. I'm looking for at least DLNA support of MKV and ideally The ability to play over network with out DLNA server. No transcoding.

Suggestions for the Lg or Samsung? I also want hdmi 1.4 with 3d support.

I had the exact same requirements, and I chose Panasonic 210. Pulled the trigger last night. If all you require is MKV, then Panasonic 210 is a better buy according to all reviews, since it is more reliable. Though it does not play formats like MPEG4, DivX.

I am not sure if Samsung is capable of playing MKV, the spec sheets of BD-D6500 and BD-D6700 just say - MPEG-2, MPEG-4, DivXHD, WMV.

http://www.samsung.com/us/system/con..._BD6500_v6.pdf

All these players will be able to connect to a wireless network at home, and you should be able to play files off shared folders without a DLNA server. At least that is what I am hoping it does.

Howdy, I'm looking for some suggestions for a Blu Ray player for my specific application. I currently have a Yamaha 2095 receiver that is about 12 years old and works great. I am hesitant to buy a new receiver because I really like the simplicity of this one and the fact that I don't necessarily want the added expense of a new receiver.

Problem is, I have a new Samsung 60" TV and need to get it hooked up so it can have HD picture quality and sound quality. I watch a lot of shows through my cable DVR box as well as listening to music. I don't need or want internet capability and all the modern bells and whistles (causes me to have a headache).

Can someone recommend a Blu Ray player for bringing my HD TV to life?

Thanks

I have a PN59D6500 and a BDT110 and I tried to set up DLNA server..... I cant seem to play DIVX off either. Though I will spend time at a later point. I have a several year old Phillips DVP5990 DVD player that plays files off usb and divx burned to disc too great. That was a better purchase than any media player for about $40 at Costco because it can play off anything you can connect via usb which includes most flash memory + cds and dvds. Its pathetic that Panasonic and Samsung do not offer the capablity Phillips offered 4 years ago



Phillips had new player that Best Buy has for $129 with wifi built in and divx.

http://www.usa.philips.com/c/blu-ray...406_f7/prd/en/


http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Philips+...=1218348990008

And Best Buy is not cheap - they are selling the 210 for $199... so eventually this player should be sub $100 when its on Amazon. If not for the Avatar, this, Oppo or LG would be better choice than the crippled Panasonic.

To get the lossless sound formats, TrueHD and DTS-HD-MA you need a bluray player with analog outputs. The optical / analog inputs in your receiver can only handle DD.

I can recommend the Oppo 93 ($499) which has the analog 5.1 outputs that you need. The player will decode the formats and put direct analog sound to your receiver. It may be that you can find the previous version (Oppo BDP-83) used, but since these tend to hold their value, it may be selling for about the same as a new 93.

In any case, you need the analog 5.1 outputs, so your connections would be:

(Sound) bluray --> 5.1 analog --> Yamaha
(video) HDMI --> Samsung HDTV

You'll get the full effect of bluray sound and video.

Actually that Yamaha looks like it has optical inputs. So why not get optical cable and therefore you can go digital on audio. Panasonics all have optical output. That is how I connected my BDT110 to my 10 year old Kenwood. The Yamaha look like it has more inputs than the Kenwood.

(It does not appear to have digital coaxial inputs so be careful on the difference)

Hello all I am in the Market for a new player and was wondering what is the best unit to get on the market for under 2,500. 3d playback would be nice with two hdmi outs put not necessary the most important thing I want can give me the the best pq possible.

2500 dollars American? Players in that range are targeted at the audiophile market. You won't get better picture quality.

The OPPO BDP-93 is $499 and the BDP-95 is $999. Both have dual HDMI and 3D.

-Bill

Depending on your needs, the best player in the market is the Oppo BDP-93.

The Onkyo BD SP809 also looks very promising.

Getting a whole new system at home: TV, Blu-ray, AVR and surround speakers. So about the Blu-ray...

I would like:
- great picture and audio
- integrated wi-fi - no dongles
- usb port
- to stream (Netflix, Pandora)
- connect to network drives to play DIVX, MKV (this is new for me, I just want to play high def downloads) and music.

My new TV will be Samsung 55" D7000 LED TV and all will be connected to new AVR (having trouble on this one - suggestions welcome!) then to the TV via 1 high speed HDMI cable.

Thanks for any and all help.

No, the best player is the Oppo 95.

Ordered myself a Panasonic BDT210 today.

Following up to my earlier question... So what is the least expensive BD player that will stream MKV?

Good choice, mine gets here on Tuesday!!!

Check out Panasonic DMP-BDT110. Plays MKV. If thats all you really need. It has 3D support as well. $110 on Amazon.

I don't think the panny will "stream" MKV. It will play MKV via USB, but not via DLNA or network share IIRC. Panny is great for netflix and other services, but generally stinks as a file streamer. It's hard to tell exactly what the OP is asking. Does he want to stream via a DLNA server or SD card or USB stick or USB hard drive (and if so what file system - NTFS, FAT32, etc.)? That changes any recommendation greatly.

This is a valuable post as I am also interested in streaming MKVs, most likely from a USB stick but possible also from a network drive. If the Panny 110 does this can I assume that the 210 will as well? Thanks!

just got a panasonic 3d plasma st30. i have a panasonic 35 so i need to upgrade that.

i will use it only for 3d blu ray so i dont need any extra stuff. wont be listening to music on it, dont need wifi, wont be using netflix to watch movies online etc. i just want a basic 3d blu player that can match my 35 pq or at least close to it.

also here is a question. my current receiver denon 1609 doesnt support those lossless audio formats, only regular dd and dts. and i am quite happy with that. but i dont know if 3d movies will force me to get a new receiver, and if by that my new blu ray player will also have to support those lossless audio formats. im still reading up on 3d.

I would be streaming via network share and/or dlna server. Don't want to transcode. My BR backups are large files so it would be ntfs.

I don't plan on plugging hard drives or USB drives in, want all streaming via local network.

Sounds like the Panny is out. How about the LGs or Samsungs? They have anything to fit the bill?

Will the Panny stream AVI, WMV, etc. from a network share or is that an issue as well?

The Panny 110 meets your criteria and has better PQ than your 35. You should also consider the 310 since it has dual HDMI outs (one for your new plasma, and the other for your AVR if it's not 3D capable).

Is The PQ better on the 110 then on the BD 10A, BD 55 and the BD 85?

It will have the same or better video processing as the 85 which was improved over all of the prior versions you mentioned.

No, it will stream wmv and mpg only. Your DLNA server would have to transcode everything to one of those formats. I'm sure it's possible, but I haven't found a good, cheap way to do it. Panny is not the player to get for file streaming. Besides Oppo, I don't know what is.

Has anyone bought the panny 110 online and gotten the avatar disk?

I am just wondering because the form says they need the origonal reciept and can't take faxes because they cant have a copy. Any printed receipt will always be a copy i.e. you printed it not the seller.

Thanks for the clarification. I can stream MKV AVI, etc from a USB stick though right?

I don't where your form came from but my form says no such thing. Copies are fine. I bought mine online and had no problems.


No AVI, no etc. MKV is the ONLY video format you can play from USB, and it must be FAT32.